Ophthalmic lens



E. o. TILLYER OPHTHALMIC LENS Filed Oct. 13, 1933 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 1935. E. D. TILLYER ET AL 2,033,101

OPHTHALMIC LENS Filed on. 13, 19333 ZSheets-Sheet 2 mvEN'roR EDGAR D.TILLYER HAROLD R. HOULTO/V. I

Patented Mar. 3, 1936 PATEN OFFlCE g r OPHTHALMICLENS Edgar n. Tillyer, Southbridge, aninamla'ngf Moulton, Sturbridge, Mass, assignors to Amer-ican Optical Company, so thb id v voluntary association of'Massachusetts inventioi'i relates to improvements lenses V and to an improved process of making the same.

One of the principal objects of the invention:

is to provide improved means and process of maka; ing and mounting lenses having more than two refractive lens elements wherein the parts of said lenses may be fitted and secured together at their peripheral edges to prevent the entrance of dirt, dust, moisture, etc., and to hold the lens elements in proper relation with each other. v

Another object of the invention is .to provide a lens of the above character and process of making the same wherein the two lens elements are so constructed as to have the appearance of a single lens and so that the lens elements may be mounted as though they were a single lens.

Another object is to provide improved means for supporting a pair of lens elements of difierent shapes in superimposed relation with each other whereby shocks and strains on said elements will be absorbed and distributed substantially equally throughout their peripheral areas.

Another object is to provide an improved process of making alens having more than one lens element wherein one of the lens elements is provided with a peripheral seat to fit a surface of the other lens element so that the said lens elements may be fitted and united together to form a unitary lens structure.

1 Another object is to provide improved means in a lens of this character for confining the flow of the securing or sealing means to the peripheral edges thereof. V

Another object is to provide an improved compound lens of this character and process of making the same wherein the lens elements may be placed in desired separated relation with each other and with their axes accurately matched one with the other and be united into a unitary structuretohold thisrelation. p Another object is :to provide improved-'means and process of uniting or sealing the entire peripheral edges of .the lens elements of ;a compound lens of this character.

-' .-.-.Another object is :to provide improved means and process of supporting the lens elementsin desired relation with each other andof applying the sealing tool. U

Application October 13, 1933; Serial No. 693,444 10 Claims. (or sea-s4 eflicient and economical means for carrying out all of the steps of the process of making lenses of the above character. Other objectsand advantages of the invention become apparent from the following descrip- 'tion taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and it will be apparent that many changes may be made .in the arrangement of parts, details of construction and steps of the process without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts, details of construction and steps of the process shown and described as the preferred forms only have been shown by way of illustration.

, Referring to the drawings:

Fig. I is a fragmentary front elevation of an ophthalmic lens embodying the invention showing a portion of its mounting in cross section;

. Fig. II is a sectional view taken on line lI-II of Fig. I; 1

Fig. Ill is a sectional view of the lens elements showing them separated; i Fig. IV is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the lens elements separated and illustrating a step in the process of manufacture;

Fig. V is a fragmentary sectional view of the lens elementsillustrating another step in the process of manufacture;

Fig. V1 is a side elevation of the means for forming the seat on one of the lens elements;

Fig. VII is a perspective view of the means for holding the lens elements in aligned relation with each other so that the edges thereof may be sealed; v p f Fig. Vmis' .a' fragmentary perspective view illustrating the sealing operation; and a Fig. IX is a fragmentary perspective view of In the past, due to the nature of the contacting surfaces of compound lenses which in most instances are of different curvatures having only a line contact with each other, much difficulty has been encountered in having dirt, dust, moisprescriptive relation eachother. .I'his de- 5E feet is very serious as a slight alteration of the prescriptive alignment of the lens elements changes the corrective properties of the lens, causing much discomfort and serious reaction on the part of the patient.

Some attempts have been made, in the past, to seal the peripheral edges against the entrance of dirt, moisture, etc. but in instances wherein the matched surfaces were of different curvatures the said surfaces, at different points along the peripheral edges thereof, were such that the flow of the securing or sealing liquid could not be controlled and the said liquid would ,fiow between the lens elements, making it necessary to separate the said elements, clean the surfaces thereof, realign their centers and/or axes and again attempt to secure or seal the edges without elements.

could be successfully completed.

i It, therefore, is one of the primary objects of this invention to overcome the above difficulties by' providing improved means and process of uniting the lens elements to produce a unitary structure whereby the peripheral edges of said elements' may be neatly, quickly and positively sealed against the entrance of dirt, dust, moisture, etc., and so that the said elements will be held in accurate aligned and spaced relation with each other during use.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the lens 7 embodying the invention, as shown in finished form in Figures I and 11, comprises two lens elements I and 2, each having finished optical surfaces 3, 4, 5, and 6 thereon of the required curvatures to produce the prescriptive requirements other after the required surfaces 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the lens. In use the lens elements I and 2 are placed in superimposed relation with each other and their optical surfaces 3, 4, 5, and 6, thickness, and the separation thereof provide the required power and correction for cylinder, sphere, prism, and image size and/or shape equalization,

etc. These surfaces 3, 4, 5 and 6 may be spherical,

cylindrical, toric, bitoric, aspheric, plano or of any required shapes or curvatures to produce the desired results. The present invention does not deal primarily with the forming and finishing" of the "surface curvatures but relates more particularly to improved means and process of mounting the lens elements in proper relation with each tures, as'for example, the surface 5 may be spherical with a long radius and the surface 4 spherical with a short radius, toric or cylindrical, having only a line contact with said surface 5. For this reason a seat I2 having a spherical or other surface of the required radius to produce a surface contact with the surface 5 is formed adjacent the peripheral edge of the surface 4. This seat I2 is formed to such a depth as to place the elements I and 2 in proper spaced relation with each other and so that said seat will have a surface contact with the surface 5 around the entire edge of the lens. This permits the lens elements to be computed to fit in close relation with each other and permits the forming of a more compact and practical lens.

This peripheral seat I2, due to the fact that it is in surface contact with the surface 5, confines the securing or sealing liquid within the groove I0 and prevents its flowing between the lens elements as has been usual in the past. The seat I2 which engages the surface 5 throughout the entire peripheral edge of the lens provides means for distributing shocks and strains on said elements throughout their entire peripheral edges instead of only at a two point contact as would for example be the case if the surface 5 were spherical and the surface 4 were cylindrical and no seat were provided.

The lens elements I and 2 when in secured relation with each other are provided with a notch or similar means I3 (Fig. I) which is adapted to engages-projection I4 internally of the groove in the lens holding means.

oif axis in its holding means during use.

3 The lens holding means 9 is of the usual'prior art type having a split temple connection I5 and bridge member IS. The holding means is split at I! in the usual prior art manner to permit the insertion or removal of lenses.

The process of making and mounting the lens elements I and 2 is as follows:

The lens elements I and 2 are ground and pol ished in the usual prior art manner to form the required optical surfaces 3, 4, 5 and 6.

The said elements, as shown in Fig. IV, are then placed in a device for locating and marking the center and/or axis of each element as indicated by the markings I8 and I9.

The lens elements are then cut to the require shape in the usual prior art manner and are provided, either before or after they are cut, with any suitable indication marks 29 so that the said lens elements may be maintained in proper relation with each other throughout the various steps of the operation. To more clearly point out the function of the indication marks 20, let us assunie for example that the centers and/or axes of the elements have been located and that the.

said elements when out and edged are slightly off axis relative to said centers so that the distance from said centers to the right edges of the elements is 1 millimeter greater than the distance from said centers to the left edges of said elee ments, an error which is very common and practically-unavoidable in practice. It is apparent that although the centers will be aligned when the elements are in proper edged relation with each other that if reversed during their process of assembling and uniting, that is so .that the;left edge of oneelement is matched with the right edge of the other,the centers of said elements will not be aligned but will be separated about 2 millimeters.- 'It is also apparent that this error. could be introduced-without changing the meridional positions of the axes other than to move the said axes out of aligned relation with-each other. The function, therefore, of the indication marks 20 is to provide means for indicating the ac curate relation in which the lens elements should beunited I M After the lens elements have been cut as above described they are'placed in accurate aligned relation with each, other on a suitable aligning device and are temporarily secured together in This provides means" for holding the lens against turning-and moving 2,083,101 1 this'relation by any suitable means such as pitch,

cement or a mechanical arrangement.

The lens elements are then simultaneously edged, as shown in Fig. V, to form the outer beveled faces 2| and 22 and are then separated'and the inner grove forming beveled faces 23 and 24 are formed. It is to be understood that the angles of these various beveled faces are such as to pro-f; vide a snug fit with the groove of thelens hold 1 ing means and to provide a suitable peripheral groove In to receive the sealing means I I when-i the lens elements are fitted together.

? snugly with the surface 5 and prevent the liquid sealer from 'fiowingibetween'the lens elements.

- space between said lens elements.

controlled by the depth to which the seat is The seat i2 is formed tosuch a depth as to position the elements I and 2 "in proper spaced 'rela tion with each other when the lens isfinished' and provides means whereby the diameter of the lens may be increased without increasing the This space is formed.

' After the lens elements have been properly edged and seated the positions of said elements with respect toeach other are carefully noted and the surfaces thereof are cleaned for the final assembling.

The elements are then fitted together and the centers and/or axes thereof are carefully aligned with each other on suitable aligning means such as a commonly known Axometer or device of a similar nature. Attention .is directed to the fact that care is taken not to reverse the positions of the elements during these cleaning and aligning operations. After the lens elements have been carefully aligned they are clamped and trans-" ferred to a device 26 such as shown in Fig. VII, wherein the said elements are supported in aligned relation with each other so that they may be rotated to simplify the operation of seali ing the edges. The edges are then sealed by the use of a tool 2! such as shown in Figures VIII and IX whichcarries the sealing liquid in a manner similar to a pen and allows the said liquid to flow in the groove I 0 as the lens elements are rotated. After the said elements have been sealed or cemented together'thenotch13 which engages the pro jection I4-in the holding means is formed inthe j Wedge'thereof by a'file or other suitable means.

Attention is directed to'the fact'that the notch I3 is formed at such a-position as to position the axis of the lens in proper relation with its hold ing means and so thatthe said lens will be supported and held in said position. The lenses are l finally carefully checked and are then mounted in their lens holding means ready for use.

ments I and 2 maybe edged separately instead of simultaneously to form thebevel edges 2| and 22, the only difference in the operation being to of the elements and to thereafter formthe bevels onsaid edges.

Lformed.

, The tool 2'! is provided internally of its groove It is also apparent that although applicants describe the forming of the notch I3 only after the elements have been sealed together the saidnotch may be formed at any suitable time previous to thesealing if desired, the only important factor being that the said elements are in proper rela- 'tion 'with each other when the notch is being "The device 26 for supporting the lens elemen during'the sealing operation, as-shownin Fig.

fVII, comprises a base 28 having spaced uprights 29 and 30. The upright 29 has a bearing pad- 3I pivotally attached thereto by a ball-and socket or other suitable connection 32 and the upright 30 has a bearing pad 33 mounted on the end of ya rod 34 which is rotatably'and slidably mounted in said upright. The pad 33 is'constantlyurged' toward the pad 3| by a spring member 35. -The rod 3 5 is provided with a fingerpiece 36 by which T it may be rotated.. 5'53? 20 ';'.'Ihe lens elements I and '2 are adapted '"to'be" clamped between thepad members 3| and 33 and are adapted to rotate when the fingerpiece 36 is rotated. The pads are provided with cushion means which frictionally engage the surfaces of the lenses and are such that they will not injure said surfaces. As the lens members I and 2 are rotated the tool 21, which, as shown in, Fig.'VHI, comprises a rod like member 21 having a longitudinal groove 38 therein forming a member having a U shaped cross section and having an angled end portion 39, is constantly held in engagement with the bevelled edges 2I and 22 and in alignment with the groove ID in said elements.

38 with the liquid cement or sealer which flows into the groove I0 as the lens elements are rotated. The cement or sealer is of any suitable quick drying nature which is adapted to seal and secure the edges together in'a minimum amount of time.

"If desired, instead of using the cement or sealer described above, which hardens and adheres to the elements, a suitable flux may be placed in the groove I 0 by which the lens elements may besubjected to heat and be permanently fused together. It is to be understood that the flux in this instance is of such a nature that fusion will take place without injuring the finished optical surfaces on said elements.

If desired the surface of'the seat I2 may be coated with rubber cementmcmpounded rubber latex, vinyl compounds, or other known plastics a use. It is to be understood that such cements V or plastics may also be usedas a sealer in the groove In if desired, the main'factor being to 'mount the lens elements inproper relation with I: each other and to seal the edges of said elements to prevent the entrance of dirt, dust, moisture,

1 etc.*and if desired to provide means for absorb- It is apparent'that if desired to the lens ele-' ing'shocksand strains on said lens elements.

- From the foregoing description it will be seen v .thatwe have provided simple, efficient and economical means and process of accomplishing all of the objects and advantages of the invention;

particularly that of securinga plurality of lens elements together .to form .a unitary lens struc- Having described our invention we claim:

1. A lens comprising a plurality of aligned lens elements having contiguous faces of varying curvatures and having angled edges fitted toether to form a peripheral groove, one of said faces having a seat thereon shaped to fit the engaging face of the other element with substantially surface contact adjacent the base of the groove and means in the groove for sealing the edges of said elements together, the said substantially surface contacting seat and engaging face at the base of the groove forming means for confining and preventing the sealing means flowing between and over the contiguous faces.

2. The process of fitting and sealing the edges of separate lens elements having contiguous faces of different curvatures thereon, comprising shap ing the edges of the contiguous faces so that when the said faces are in superimposed relation with each other the said edges will form a peripheral groove, providing one of said elements witha seat adjacent its edge having a surface of substantially the same shape as the engaging surface of the other element and fitting said surface with substantially a surface contact at the base of the groove, placing the said elements in superimposed and aligned relation with each other, and placing a sealing compound in the peripheral groove to seal the peripheral edges of said elements together, the said substantially surface contacting seat and engaging surface at the base of the groove forming means for confining and preventing the sealing means fiowing between and over the contiguous faces.

3. The process of fitting and sealing the edges of separate lens elements having contiguous faces of different curvatures thereon, comprising shaping the edges of the contiguous faces so that when the said faces are in superimposed relation with each other the said edges will form a peripheral groove, providing one of said elements with a seat adjacent the groove having a surface of substantially the same shape as the engaging surface of the'other element and fitting said surface with substantially a surface contact at the base of the groove, placing the said elements in superimposed and aligned relation with each other, placing a fiux in the groove and subjecting the parts to heat to integrally melt the fiux and then allowing the flux to cool and secure the peripheral edges together, the said contacting surfaces at the base of the groove forming means for confining and preventing the fiux fiowingbetween and over the contiguous faces during the securing operation. V

4. The process of forming a lens of separate elements having contiguous faces of difierent curvatures on one side and having finished optical surfaces on the opposite faces thereof, comprising locating and marking the centers and/or axes on said elements, cutting the said elements approximately to required shape and in prede termined relation with their centers and/or axes, edging the said elements to their finished shapes and to form edges on the contiguous faces thereof so that when the said elements are in superimposed relation with each other the said edges will form a peripheral groove, forming a seat adjacent the edge of one of the contiguous faces with a surface shaped to fit the engaging surface of the other face with substantially a surface contact at the base of the groove, placing the said elements in superimposed and aligned relation with each other and placing a sealing compound in the groove to seal the said elements together, the

said surface substantially in surface contact with the engaging surface at the base of the groove forming means for confining and preventing the sealing compound fiowing between and over the contiguous faces.

5. The process of forming a lens of separate lens elements having contiguous optical faces of different curvatures on one side and having finished optical surfaces on the opposite faces thereof, comprising cutting the said elements to approximately the required shape, temporarily securing the said elements together in aligned rela-- tion with each other, forming beveled edges on the outer surfaces thereof when in temporary secured relation with each other, separating the said elements and forming beveled edges on the contiguous faces thereof, which when the said faces are in superimposed and aligned relation with each other form a peripheral groove, forming a seat on one of said contiguous faces a fiacent the beveled.

edge thereof having a surface of substantially the same shape and fitting in substantially surface contact with the engaging surface of the other element, placing the two elements in superimposed and aligned relation with each other to form the continuous peripheral groove and placing a sealing compound in the groove to seal the said peripheral edges together.

6. The process of forming a lens of separate lens elements having contiguous faces of different curvatures comprising shaping the edges of the contiguous faces so that when the said faces are in superimposed relation with each other the said edges will form a peripheral groove, providing one of said elements with a seat having a surface of substantially the same shape as the engaging surface of the other element and in substantially surface contact therewith, placing said elements in superimposed and aligned relation with each other in a holder, rotating said elements as a unit while held in said holder and feeding a sealing compound in the groove during the rotation of said elements to seal said groove.

'7. A lens comprising a plurality of lens elements mounted in superimposed relation with each other, one of said elements having desired lens surfaces on the opposite sides thereof, and the other ele-- ment having desired lens surfaces on its respective sides, the adjacent surfaces of said elements being noncomplementary and each of said elements being of substantially the same size and shape and having beveled peripheral edges which when the elements are in superimposed relation with each other form a peripheral groove and one of said elements having a complementary surface adjacent its beveled edge engaging the inner surface of the other element adjacent its beveled edge and forming substantially contacting surfaces at the base of the peripheral groove and means in the groove for sealing the lens elements together, said substantially contacting surfaces forming means for confining the flow of the sealing means to prevent its flowing between and over the inner noncomplementary surfaces during the sealing operation.

8. A lens comprising a plurality of lens elements mounted in superimposed relation with each other, one of said elements having desired lens surfaces on the opposite sides thereof and the other element having desired lens surfaces on its respective sides, the inner surfaces of said elements being noncomplementary and each of said elements being of substantially the same size and shape and having oppositely beveled peripheral edges, the outer bevels of which are adapted to and means in the groove for sealing the lens elements together, said substantially contacting surfaces forming means for confining the flow of the sealing means to prevent its flowing between and over the inner noncomplementary surfaces during the sealing operation. v

9. The process of forming a compound vlens comprising forming desired lens surfaces'on the opposite sides of a. lens element, forming desired lens surfaces on the respective sides of another 1 lens element, the inner surfaces of which are elements together, the said complementary sur-v noncomplementary, edging the contour of the, lens elements to form beveled peripheral edges which when the elements are fitted together areadapted to form a peripheral groove, forming a complementary surface adjacent the beveled edge of one of said lens elements to fit the inner sur- 1 face of the other lens element adjacent the base of the groove and with substantially a surface contact, and placing a sealing compound in the peripheral groove to seal the edges of the lens face forming means during the sealing operation vfor confining the fiow of the sealing compound to prevent its flowing between and over the inner noncomplementary surfaces during the sealing operation.

10. The process of forming a compound lens comprising forming desired lens surfaces on the -opposite sides of a lens element, forming desired lens surfaces on the respective sides of another lens element, the inner surfaces of which are noncomplementary, edging the contour of the lens element to substantially the same size and shape and to form oppositely beveled peripheral edges,

the outer bevels of which are adapted to fit the groove of a lens supporting rim and the inner bevels being adapted to form a peripheral groove when the lens elements are fitted together, forming a complementary surface adjacent the beveled edge of one of said lens elements to fit the inner surface of the other lens element adjacent the base of the groove and with a substantially surface contact and placing a sealingvcompound in the peripheral groove to seal theedges of the lens elements together, the said complementary surface forming means during the sealing operation for confining the flow of the sealing compound to prevent its fiowing between and over the inner noncomplementary surfaces during the sealing operation.

EDGAR D. TILLYER.

HAROLD R. MOULTON. 

